By Raphael Tenthani
Blantyre - Shoprite Checkers in Malawi suffered extensive damage to one of its shops after supporters of a soccer team belonging to President Bakili Muluzi went on the rampage.
Muluzi on Monday angrily condemned the violent scenes that erupted at Chichiri stadium following Sunday's semifinal involving his team, the Bakili Bullets, and their long time arch-rivals, MTL Wanderers.
He said he did not see how supporters of his team could overreact after what he termed "a straightforward" victory by their rivals. He said he suspected that his political opponents had a hand in the violence.
The unprecedented violence erupted when MTL Wanderers looked like they were holding on to a 3-1 lead over the president's team. Angry supporters threw stones onto the pitch, forcing a 15-minute stoppage.
Police spokesperson George Chikowi said several people, including three police officers, were seriously injured after they were trampled.
The violence then spilled over onto the main Chipembere highway, where 29 vehicles were damaged.
The fans then vented their anger on a nearby station of the state-run Shire Buslines, whose chief executive, Humphrey Mvula, is MTL Wanderers' chairperson.
According to Mvula, the busline suffered 10-million kwacha (about R675 000) damages.
Shoprite Checkers was next in line. "We are still assessing the damage but one of the shops suffered 300 000 kwacha in damage," said a spokesperson yesterday.
Muluzi ordered police to launch an investigation to bring to book the perpetrators of the violence. - Independent Foreign Service
Published on the web by the Star on October 22, 2003.
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